Seasons

I love seasons!  Without them I think things could get monotonous.  Each one brings a new landscape, new activities, new beauty, and new challenges.  Some seasons are long...like this winter.  Others seem to pass so quickly that we almost miss them...like fall sometimes.  Many times it feels like we go from 80 degrees to 20 in about a week. 

There are seasons in our life and I believe they make things more beautiful.  I often find myself tired and stretched thin and am told by many, "It's just the season your in."  True.  I am in a season of being needed constantly.  A season of having to do EVERYTHING for two little people. 

This post was inspired at 3:30am while I was rocking my sweet baby Samuel back to sleep.  As he tucked his baby-smelling head right under my chin and cuddled in I realized this season of my life is likely soon over. It made me sad.  I love having a baby.  I also realized that as difficult as this stage is, I will welcome the next as I see him grow and learn and discover new things. 

And then there's a slightly different season that my 3-yr old is in.  She's trying to figure out how to live in this world.  She's daily pulled between, "Look how BIG I'm getting, Mommy!  I am sooo BIG now!"  and "Moooom!  I CAN'T!  Please can you (dress me, carry me, pick up my toys, feed me, etc)."  This conflict within is what seems to trigger the most tantrums.  Some days she is still one of my babies who needs cuddles and some days she's my big kid who can do it herself.  She knows she's independent of me, but still keeps me close.  And I realize that as difficult as this season is, I will welcome the next as I see her grow and learn and discover new things. 

Noah is in an amazing season.  He's becoming more independent.  I have to do less for him and seldom get to snuggle with him and it makes me a little sad.  He LOVES learning new things.  He NEVER stops talking.  :)  He's learning how to live in this world, as well.  We are trying to give him more freedom but teach him that with freedom comes responsibility.  He's continuing to learn that life isn't fair and people aren't perfect...and sometimes it hurts.  And I realize that as difficult as this season is, I will welcome the next as I see him grow and learn and discover new things. 

The seasons after this I am only vaguely aware of...I have lived through them, but not as a parent.  My kids will move into the teen years which will bring their own struggles and accomplishments and delights and despairs.  We will do our best as they stretch their wings and learn to fly on their own.  And before we know it, they will be off on their own, making their own decisions, whether we like them or not.  And I realize that as difficult as these season are, I will welcome the next as I see them grow and learn and discover new things.    

In the end, seasons are change...life is change.  It's just the way things go.  No season is the best because they each have good and bad. But, they are all necessary for things to grow the way they need to.  Please God, help me see the beauty in each season and use each one to help my children grow into whatever You have for them.